Spring block for carrying cases for musical wind instruments



A. FREISTAT May 21, 1957 SPRING BLOCK FOR CARRYING CASES FOR MUSICAL WIND INSTRUMENTS Filed July 14, v19534 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ALFRED FREISTAT May 21, 1957 A. FREISTAT 2,792,932

SPRING BLOCK FOR CARRYING CASES FOR MUSICAL WIND INSTRUMENTS Filed July 14, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 5/ I' l, 1,14 3 1 5 I I f fimiwfgio zz $1 7564 @Mwm MAM, M w

[III/[1117)! I IN VEN TOR. ALFRED FREIs'rA'r .BYgwllCggbalyb A. FREISTAT 2,792,932

SPRING BLOCK FOR CARRYING CASES FOR MUSICAL WIND INSTRUMENTS May 21, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 14, 1954 INVHVTOR. ALFRED FREISTAT UnitedStates .PatentO 2,792,932 SPRING BLOCK FOR CARRYING CASES FOR MUSICAL WIND INSTRUMENTS 'Alfred Freistat, BrooklymN. Y. Application July 14, 1954, Serial No. 443,317

I 1 Claim. (Cl. 206-13) r This invention relates to new and useful improvements in carrying cases for cornets, trumpets and other musical wind instruments having valves orthe like.

More particularly, the present invention proposes the construction of an improved spring block for such carrying cases which can be secured in a case by the manufacturer of the case and which will permit the case to be used securely to hold any instrument for which it is intended regardless of the valve dimensions of the particular instrument.

As a further object, the present invention proposes forming the spring block so that a case in which it is secured can be used equally as well for any make or any instrument of a particular manufacturer regardless of the common variations in valve sizes and shapes.

Another object of the present invention proposes constructing the spring block with two jaws, one resiliently connected with the other and movable in the same plane toward and away therefrom frictionally to grip and hold the valves of a valve containing wind instrument.

A further object of the present invention proposes arranging the jaws and providing them with means conveniently to open them merely by inserting the instrument in the case and to limit the extent to which the jaws may be opened.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a comet or trumpet case having a spring block secured therein constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the spring block shown in Fig. l with the case and a horn shown in dot-dash outline.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the spring block shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a side view of the structure shown in Fig. 3 but with the movable jaw shown in an extended position.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the structure as shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.,

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of a structure similar to that shown in the foregoing described figures, but illustrating a modification of the present invention.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a top plan view with parts broken away and in section of the structure shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating another modification of the invention.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the movable jaw member shown in Fig. 11.

The spring block, in accordance with the first form of 2,792,932 Patented May 21,-

the invention illustrated in Figs. 1-7, inclusive, is gener ally designated by the reference numeral 15.

Block 15 is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 as mounted in a cornet or trumpet carrying case 16 which has a lid 17, a builtup platform 18 and an end compartment 19 for the flared end of a horn (cornet or trumpet) 20. The spring block 15 is mounted on the platform 18 adjacent a guide block 21 fixed to the platform. Case 16 is, felt-lined and the platform 18 and guide block 21 are felt-covered.

Spring block 15 has a fixed jaw or jaw member 22 which is fixed to the platform 18 by glue, cement or other fastening means. The fixed jaw member 22 has an integral hollow arm 23 extending from it.

A movable jaw or jaw member 24 is also provided on the spring block 15. Movable jawv member 24' has a hollow arm 25 which is adapted slidably to fit inside the hollow arm 2.3 of the fixed jaw member 22 so that the movable jaw member 24 can be moved toward and the fixed jaw member 22. 1

Inside the hollow arms 25 and 23, a tension coil spring 26 is disposed resiliently to connect the jaw members 22 and 24. Coil spring 26 has one end 27 secured by hook 28 to the fixed jaw member 22 and another end 29 secured by a cross pin 30 to the movable jaw member 24.

The free end 31 of arm 23 of the fixed jaw member 22 abuts the movable jaw member 24 at abutment stop points 32 to keep the movable jaw 24 normally spaced from the fixed jaw 22 the length of the fixed jaw arm 23. Spring 26 tends to bias the movable jaw into such position. The spring block 15 preferably is covered with felt 33 which matches the felt lining of the case into which the block 15 is to be mounted.

Block 15 may be mounted in case 16 by the manufacturer of the case. Any difference in size, shape or other dimensions of valve 34 of a horn 20 will be compensated for by the movement of the movable jaw. By placing the instrument 20 in the case, the valves 34 will seat between the jaws 22 and 24 forcing the movable jaw 24 apart the necessary distance. The spring 26 will keep the movable jaw 24 firmly pressed against the valve 34 but will permit removal of the instrument from the case when such removal is desired.

The modification of the invention illustrated in Figs. 8, 9 and 10 is characterized by the provision of a spring block 35 having a fixed jaw or jaw member 36 with a hollow arm 37 and a movable jaw or jaw member 38 having a hollow arm 39 adapted slidably to fit inside the hollow arm 37 of the fixed jaw or jaw member 36.

A tension coil spring 40 is disposed inside the hollow arms 37 and 39, one end 41 of spring 40 being secured by a cross pin 42 to the movable jaw 38 and the other end of spring 40 being secured by a tie rod 43 to the fixed jaw 36. The abutment of the free end 44 of arm 39 of fixed jaw 38 against the abutment stop 45 of the movable jaw 38 keeps the jaws 36 and 38 spaced apart the length of arm 39.

A set screw 23 is threadedly engaged in arm 23 and is adapted to engage the side 25 of the hollow arm 25. By tightening the set screw 23 against the surface 25, the jaw member 38 may be fixed against motion by the coil spring 40.

In addition, the arm 39 of the movable jaw 38 has a slot 46 into which projects a stop pin 47 secured to and extending through the arm 37 of the fixed jaw 36. Stop pin 38 limits the movement of the arm 39 in arm 37 and prevents it from being forced out the free end of arm 37.

The modification of the invention illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12 is characterized by the provision of a spring block 48 constructed generally the same as spring block 35 illustrated in Figs. 8, 9 and 10 and described above and hence like parts of block 48 being given like reference away from While I have illustratedand described the preferred embodiments oi myinvention, itis to be understood that I donot limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming Within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

' Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

- The combination with a case for a musical instrument having a flaring horn and crossed valve n -nbers comprising a body section and a coversection nix together, of a block" built in said body section for supporting the instrument, said block extending from one end of the body section-to-a point remote from the other end thereby providing a compartment at said latter end for accommod'ating the flaring horn of the instrument, a sectional block on the center of the upper surface of said supporting block for retaining the instrument, said retaining block havinga section fixed on the supporting block and having a section siidable thereon, said fixed and slidable sections each having a vertically disposed head with a horizontally disposed hollow arm portion at its lower end leaving a portionofithe head. extending. thereabove, the-hollowarm portion of the slidable section being telescoped in the hollow arm portion of the" fixed section, and a tension spring extending through said telescoped hollow arm portions, one end of the spring being fixed to the fixed section and its other end fixed to the slidable section for urging the fixed and slidable sections toward each other, the portions of the heads of the fixed and slidable sections protruding above the hollow arm' portions defining ,a space for receiving the crossed valve members of the instrument, the upper surfaces of said hollow arm' portions providing a supporting; surface therefor.

- ReferencesCitedin the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 402,791 Adams May 7, 1889 486,726 Mendelson Nov. 22, 1892 670,446 Fletcher Mar. 26; 1901 1,226,029 Tessmer May 15, 1917 1,664,476 Geib Apr. 3, 1928 2,403,718 Hauck July 9, 1946 2,508j076 Palmer May 16', 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 389,096 France Aug. 31', 1908 

